Clip-on Jolt Sensor vibrates when there's a risk of concussion

Heightened awareness of brain injuries and their enduring impacts has seen emphasis grow on immediate concussion testing. Indeed, if some time passes before detection, an additional blow to the already injured brain can have serious consequences. The team behind the Jolt Sensor is looking to make these assessments an instantaneous affair, with a sensor that clips onto an athlete's headwear and vibrates when they receive too heavy a knock.

In addition to the real-time vibrations, the Jolt Sensor sends an alert to the paired device, which may rest in the hands of a coach, parent or other concerned spectator. This notifies the onlooker that the wearer has experienced a blow forceful enough to warrant a concussion test, in which case they are advised to pull them from the field.

Where professional sporting teams may have a doctor on hand, amateur athletes are generally afforded no such luxury. The Jolt Sensor is aimed at filling this void, with a cognitive test and concussion checklist built into the app to enable parents and coaches to conduct primary assessments. All of the information collected by the app is stored in the cloud, which can then be accessed later by a doctor to aid in professional evaluations.

Recent technological advances aimed at improving concussion testing for athletes has included helmet-mounted sensors and blood tests that gauge the severity of a concussion. With the ability to simply clip onto any piece of headwear, the Jolt Sensor does appear to bring a new level of simplicity and convenience.

The Jolt Sensor is said to be fully waterproof and is charged via an inbuilt Micro USB port, with each charge lasting several weeks. Its developers have taken to Kickstarter to raise funds for production, where a pledge of US$80 will have one shipped your way next April if all goes as planned.

Nick was born outside of Melbourne, Australia, with a general curiosity that has drawn him to some distant (and very cold) places. Somewhere between enduring a winter in the Canadian Rockies and trekking through Chilean Patagonia, he graduated from university and pursued a career in journalism. He now writes for Gizmag, excited by tech and all forms of innovation, Melbourne's bizarre weather and curried egg sandwiches. All articles by Nick LavarsFollow @NickLavars